Still popular, Brazil’s Lula starts serving jail sentence

By MAURICIO SAVARESE and JILL LANGLOISApril 8, 2018

Demonstrators protest against Brazil's former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva outside the Federal Police Department where he was taken in Curitiba, Brazil, late Saturday, April 7, 2018. Da Silva woke up in jail Sunday, in a stunning fall from grace for a man who rose from nothing to lead Latin America's largest nation and later became engulfed in corruption allegations. (AP Photo/Denis Ferreira)

CURITIBA, Brazil (AP) — Former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva woke up in jail Sunday as the first current or former president in Brazil’s modern history to be incarcerated, adding a measure of unpredictability to the country’s upcoming presidential elections.

Foreshadowing possible unrest in the weeks to come, about 500 supporters remained outside of the jail hours after police shot rubber bullets and sprayed tear gas to disperse the crowd.

The Workers’ Party said eight people were injured during the previous night’s clashes and one was hospitalized. No serious injuries were reported.

“The police cowardly attacked us last night, but we accept that we have to stay outside the perimeter. We will respect it,” said Roberto Baggio, local coordinator of the Landless Workers’ Movement. “We are expecting people from southern Brazil to arrive here today. We are not leaving until Lula is freed.”

Federal police agents said da Silva did not speak during his transfer from Sao Bernardo do Campo to Curitiba.

Da Silva’s fall from grace has unfolded steadily over the past week after the Supreme Federal Tribunal, the country’s top court, ruled against his petition to remain free while he continued to appeal his 12-year sentence for money laundering and corruption. But his prison conditions will not be dismal.

Not considered a formal cell, the 160-square-feet room that has been set aside for the former president is located on the fourth floor of the five-story Federal Police building in Curitiba. It is mostly used as a dormitory for agents visiting from other cities across the country.

Brazilian news site G1 reported that da Silva’s room has bars on the outer side of its single window and none on its door. It has enough space for a single bed and a small table now that its usual bunk beds have been removed. It also has a private bathroom with a toilet and a shower with hot water.

Federal police said da Silva had bread and butter and coffee for breakfast on Sunday morning and was told that he could knock on his room’s door if there was anything he needed.

He was also told he would be allowed to watch TV, and police said he was planning to watch his soccer team, Corinthians, play the state championship final against their arch rivals, Palmeiras.

Workers’ Party leader Gleisi Hoffmann said da Silva was in a good mood and that she accompanied the former president until he entered the room where he will serve his sentence.

Meanwhile, opinions about the incarceration of da Silva remained strong in the southern city of Curitiba, which is considered to be the center of the so-called “Car Wash” investigation.

Judge Sergio Moro, who oversees many of the Car Wash cases in the city and ordered da Silva arrested, is often seen as a hero for jailing politicians involved in the widespread corruption scheme.

“There are a lot of people in jail who haven’t even been tried. Lula was sentenced to 12 years in prison, he should have been there already,” said Valmir Oliveira, who works for Parana’s sanitation company. “For the majority that works for this country, this was a relief. He is not above the law. I hope more of those politicians come to Curitiba.”

A few houses around the federal police building flew Brazilian flags, which have become a symbol of those who wanted da Silva jailed. But detractors had largely left the area around the jail, and downtown Curitiba was quiet on Sunday as residents seemed to go about their day.

Da Silva will be held far from other prisoners in the building, who are located on the second floor, G1 reported.

Some of those being held in the general lockup area are also charged with crimes related to the Car Wash corruption scandal, such as Antonio Palocci, a former minister in da Silva’s government, and Leo Pinheiro, the former president of construction firm OAS, who testified that the apartment at the center of da Silva’s case was reserved for the former president as part of a bribe.

During his time at the jail, da Silva will be on 24-hour watch and will be given two hours outside each day. His three meals will be served with plastic utensils and he will be able to receive visitors on Wednesdays, G1 also said.

The towering political figure, who had originally defied an arrest warrant and hunkered down in a metal workers union where he began his rise through the ranks of Brazilian politics, will continue to appeal his corruption conviction from jail.

He is the latest high-profile Brazilian to be ensnared in the Car Wash investigation, which has seen several of the country’s political and business elite arrested over the last four years.

He is also leading preference polls ahead of October’s presidential election.